By: Matt Rappa, managing editor 
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Philadelphia Phillies (10-10) will look to capture their third consecutive road series win against National League East division opponents as they oppose left-hander Gio Gonzalez and the Washington Nationals (14-5) Wednesday evening at Nationals Park.
Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson will take the mound for his fifth start of the season. The seven-year veteran has surrendered 12 extra-base hits over his past three starts and 13.0 innings pitched — all of which have come against National League East opponents.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-10) | Washington Nationals (14-5) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RHP | Jeremy Hellickson | LHP | Gio Gonzalez | ||
| (1-1, 5.21 ERA) | (1-0, 1.42 ERA) | ||||
Jeremy Hellickson — Age: 29;
- Last Start: April 20, 2016, vs. NYM: ND, 4.1 IP, 10 H, 4 R, 4 ER, BB, 6 SO, 2 HR
- Career vs. WSN: (0-2), 3 G, 13.1 IP, 16 H, 14 R, 13 ER, 9 BB, 9 SO, 3 HR, 8.78 ERA
Hellickson has allowed at least four earned runs and one home run in each of his three career starts against the Nationals, posting a combined 8.78 ERA and 1.875 WHIP ratio over 13 1/3 innings.
The right-hander's most recent outing against the Nationals came on April 15, when he allowed a season-high six runs — five of which were earned — en route to his first losing decision of the season.
Gio Gonzalez — Age: 30;
- Last Start: April 22, 2016, vs. MIN: W, 6.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 2 ER, BB, 8 SO
- Career vs. PHI: (8-5), 17 G, 105.1 IP, 90 H, 39 R, 34 ER, 33 BB, 106 SO, 8 HR, 2.91 ERA
Gonzalez — the player to be named later that was included in the December 2005 Jim Thome trade to the Chicago White Sox, who was dealt a year later to the same organization with Gavin Floyd for Freddy Garcia — will make his 18th career start against the Phillies on Wednesday.
The left-hander did not make his first start of the season until April 12 — 16 days removed from his final spring training appearance — due to shifts in the rotation from off-days and a rainout on April 9.
Gonzalez has surrendered just two extra-base hits this season against the 75 batters he has faced overall: a double to first baseman Darin Ruf and a home run to catcher Carlos Ruiz on April 17.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (10-10) | Washington Nationals (14-5) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 1 | CF | Michael Taylor | R |
| 2 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 2 | 3B | Anthony Rendon | R |
| 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | 1B | Ryan Zimmerman | R |
| 5 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R | 5 | 2B | Daniel Murphy | L |
| 6 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 6 | LF | Jayson Werth | R |
| 7 | LF | Tyler Goeddel | R | 7 | SS | Danny Espinosa | S |
| 8 | P | Jeremy Hellickson | R | 8 | C | Jose Lobaton | S |
| 9 | RF | Peter Bourjos | R | 9 | P | Gio Gonzalez | R |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 7:05 p.m.
- TV: CSN
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- The Phillies are currently 4.5 games behind the Nationals for first place in the division. At the same point into the season in 2015, they were 8-12 and seven games behind the New York Mets.
- Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera ranks ninth among National League batters in WAR, 0.9, and second in walks, 19. During his current seven-game hitting streak, Herrera is batting .360/.485/.480 with eight runs, nine hits, one home run, four runs-batted-in and seven walks over 25 at-bats.
- Two of the Nationals' five losses this season have come against the Phillies — both of which were one-run defeats. Dusty Baker's squad has out-scored and out-hit the Phillies 22-9 and 39-27, respectively this season.
What's Next:
- Thursday, April 28, 2016: at Washington Nationals, 4:05 p.m.
- Nationals Park
- RHP Aaron Nola (1-2, 4.50 ERA) vs. RHP Tanner Roark (2-2, 2.63 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
